More South Wiltshire libraries to reopen this month

Four of our local libraries will be reopened by Wiltshire Council in the coming weeks, for the first time since lockdown.

Each of the locations will be open again with the same hours as before, operated by staff and volunteers.

Here's when the affected libraries will reopen:

• Pewsey - Tuesday 27th October

• Wilton - Thursday 29th October

• Mere - Friday 30th October

• Downton - Friday 6th November

People will be able to use each site for up to 30 minutes at a time, or 45 minutes if you're booked a computer there.

Salisbury and Amesbury's Libraries have already reopened to the public.

There's a few things that Wiltshire Council have put in place to ensure customer safety:

• Loan items continue to be renewed automatically, so there is no rush to return items

• People are advised to be sensible and not pick up and put back lots of books

• Social distancing measures will be in place, with clear signage

• Customers and staff are asked to wear face coverings

• Hand sanitiser will be available at each library

• Depending on how many people are using the library, people may have to queue outside upon arrival

• Computers in the libraries can be used for 45 minutes, but they must be booked in advance, by phoning the relevant library during their opening hours

• People should bring their library cards

• Returned books will be stored for 72 hours before being put back on shelves, but customers will not incur fines as a result of the short delay

• Screens will be in place at main customer service desk

• People will be asked to provide contact details as part of the Covid-19 test and trace system

MOBILE LIBRARIES ALSO COMING BACK

Wiltshire Council's mobile library service is also being restarted within days.

It'll start visiting rural locations, including Winterbourne Earls, Allington, Newton Tony, Porton, South Newton, Dinton, Larkhill and Hindon from Tuesday 20th October.

The full timetable's available on the Wiltshire Council website.

There's a few safety measures in place for those too:

• Social distancing measures are in place, with clear signage

• Only one customer at a time can access the mobile library at a time - depending on whether someone is already using the library, you may have to queue outside upon arrival

• Browsing will be limited to five minutes if other customers are waiting - people are advised to be sensible and not pick up and put back lots of books

• Customers and staff are asked to wear face coverings

• Hand sanitiser is available on entering the mobile library

• People should bring their library cards

• Returned books will be stored for 72 hours before being put back on shelves, but customers will not incur fines as a result of the short delay

• Screens will be in place at the customer service desks

• People will be asked to provide contact details as part of the Covid-19 test and trace system

Cllr Ian Blair-Pilling, Wiltshire Council Cabinet Member for Libraries, said:

"Our libraries team has worked incredibly hard and in partnership with our volunteers to get the next set of libraries in Wiltshire reopen and get our much loved mobile library service back up and running.

"Our library service has adapted so well throughout the pandemic and it's great to see people continually embrace what we've been able to offer. It's good to see the mobiles back on the road again, serving the rural areas of Wiltshire and the most vulnerable "